Balloon catheter systems and methods

Abstract

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to balloon catheter assemblies. The balloon catheter assemblies can include a plurality of ports, a junction hub, an elongated member, and an inflation balloon. The balloon catheter assemblies can also include a reinforced tubular shaft extending through the inflation balloon. The balloon catheter assemblies can also include a retaining mechanism that can be removably attached to the junction hub.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A balloon catheter assembly, comprising:
 an elongated member comprising:
 a first lumen extending longitudinally through the elongated member, the first lumen in communication with a first proximal port; 
 a second lumen extending longitudinally through the elongated member from a proximal end of the elongated member to a distal end of the elongated member; and 
 a third lumen extending longitudinally through the elongated member from the proximal end of the elongated member to the distal end of the elongated member; and 
 a junction hub disposed at the proximal end of the elongated member comprising:
 a first extension member in fluid communication with the first lumen; and 
 a second extension member in fluid communication with the second and third lumens, wherein a lumen of the second extension member is bifurcated to form the second and third lumens; and 
 
 
 a balloon segment comprising:
 an inflation balloon coupled to the elongated member such that an interior portion of the inflation balloon is in fluid communication with the second lumen and the third lumen but is not in fluid communication with the first lumen; 
 a tubular shaft extending through the inflation balloon, wherein the tubular shaft is aligned with and coupled to the first lumen, the tubular shaft configured such that a guide wire is extendable from the first lumen of the elongated member to the tubular shaft and through the inflation balloon; and 
 a reinforcement member coupled to a portion of the tubular shaft, wherein the reinforcement member is constrained to the balloon segment. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen is substantially circular in shape and the second and third lumens are substantially elliptical in shape. 
     
     
       3. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen is substantially circular in shape and the second and third lumens are substantially kidney shaped. 
     
     
       4. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a cross-section of the elongated member defines a vertical axis and a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to the vertical axis; 
 a cross-section of the first lumen is substantially centered along the vertical axis; and 
 a cross-section of the second lumen and a cross-section of the third lumen are each substantially elliptical in shape, wherein a major axis of the second lumen and a major axis of the third lumen are disposed at substantially 45 degrees to the horizontal axis of the cross-section of the elongated member. 
 
     
     
       5. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a portion of the second lumen and a portion of the third lumen each intersect the horizontal axis of the cross-section of the elongated member. 
     
     
       6. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the cross-section of the first lumen and the cross-section of the elongated member are each substantially circular. 
     
     
       7. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the minimum dimension of any wall disposed between the first, second, and third lumens or any wall disposed between the first, second, and third lumens and the circumference of the elongated member is no less than 10% of a diameter of the cross-section of the elongated member. 
     
     
       8. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a diameter of the cross-section of the first lumen is no more than 50% of a diameter of the cross-section of the elongated member. 
     
     
       9. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a minor axis of the second lumen is no more than 40% of a diameter of the cross-section of the elongated member, and a minor axis of the third lumen is no more than 40% of the diameter of the cross-section of the elongated member. 
     
     
       10. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sum of an area circumscribed by the cross-section of the second lumen and an area circumscribed by the cross-section of the third lumen is between 1.4 and 2 times an area circumscribed by the cross-section of the first lumen. 
     
     
       11. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a braided structure. 
     
     
       12. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member is disposed such that it resists longitudinal compression of the inflation balloon. 
     
     
       13. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement member and tubular shaft exert a longitudinal expansion force on the inflation balloon when the inflation balloon is in a deflated configuration. 
     
     
       14. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen is in direct communication with the tubular shaft. 
     
     
       15. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member is integral with the tubular shaft. 
     
     
       16. The balloon catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member is embedded within a portion of the tubular shaft.